Apparatus for converting hydrocarbons



Nov. 8, 1932. R. T. POLLOCK APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING HYDROCARBONS Original Filed Nov. 25, 1919 ratus of the c which certain of the vapors, to-wit, the

- Thefflpor, chamber is residuum drawofi .7, provid "valve8; j I i \Ihe delivery end of the vapor line is con? her 25, 1919, Seria "tured into Patent coming charging nates the furnacein whic is mounted Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES ROBERT .T. POLLOCK. 0] BOSTON,

PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,

APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING 'HYDROCARBONS I Original application This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for converting hydrocarbons and refers more particularly to apparatus. in which relatively heavy hydrocarbons have a substantial portion of their content converted into gasoline or similar low boiling point hydrocarbons.

This application is a division of an earlier application filed b me under date of Novem- No. 339,7 82 which has ma- No.. 1,602,990 of Oct. 12,

Among the salient objects of the invention are to provide an apparatus in which the oil to be treated is fed continuously to a cracking zone (preferably first passing through and being preheated by the outgoing vapors) and is then va orized; to provide an appa:

liaracter last referred to in heavier ones, are subjected to a reflux condensing action and are then preferably con tinuously returned to the body of fresh instock in regulated uantities; to provide an apparatus in whic the oil and vapors are maintained under a regu-,

both during distillalated vapor pressure;

and in which gasoline tion and condensation, of a. substantially point may be pr uced'. to provide certain improvements in simplification andefliciency of operation of apparatus, and in general to provide an im roved apparatus of the character describe Tomore clearly Ihave shown in the accompanyin a somewhat diagrammatic view, i the apparatus.

Describing this drawin understand the invention, drawing ustrating in detail, 1 desig- 2 which serves as the cracking zone. Above t ecoil 2 is positioned a vapor chamber or expansion chamber'fi, which is connectedto the coil. by the pi 4. The vapors pass .from' the upper end 0 vapor ine 5 rovided with a with. a throttle filled November 25, 1819, Serial No. 839,782. Divided and this application 26, 1924. Serialll'o. 715,885.

'ven end point or boiling acoil is, in the l preferable thechamberB to a riser or "hih'. 't'oed a1 6. m w c m on 1 n av ye provided with 'acontrol valve32. The pump charging MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB. TO UNIVERSAL OIL ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA nected to the lower portion of a reflux condenser or dephlegmator 9. This dephlegmator is provided with a series of baflles of any desired form or construction. The uncondensed vapors pass from the upper end of the dephlegmator through pipe 11 into a water condenser 12. This water condenser 12 1s preferably similar to a vertical tube boiler, the construction being generally shown in the drawing and the water passing through the tubes and the oil around the tubes. The condensed vapors pass from thelower end of the condenser 12 to a-receiving tank 13, which tank is, rovided with liquid drawofl 14, controlled y valve 15 and gas. outlet 16, controlled b valve 17 Pressure valve 18 is also provide Describing now the manner in which the fresh raw charging stock is fed to the apparatus, it is drawn from any suitable source of supply through pipe 19 by means of pump 20. The pump delivers it under pressure to line 21 which leads upwardly to the upper end of the dephlegmator 9 as-shown at 22. A throttle valve23 is interposed in the line 21. The oil which passes into the dephlegmator 1s,-of course, preheated by the rising vapors and in turn tends to further assist thereflux cogldensing action. t a

lf-desired, owever, the raw oil mayitself be preheatedbefore it reaches the charging pump 20. The fresh oil and the reflux condensate will pass to a reduced extension 24 connected to the lower end of the dephlegmator 9. From this by line 25 the charging stock'and reflux condensate reaches the inlet of the cracking coil 2. Any excess of a mixturefkof rawoil and condensate will pass through line 26 into the tank 27. This tank 27 j is provided at its lower end with a drawofi line 28 controlled by valve 29, leading to any suitable receiving tank. The valve 29 operation, closed.

A second'line 30 leads from the tank 27 to asecond pump 31. This line 30 is also 31 is connected, by branch p'pe 33 to the line 21 This charging line 21 is provided at -its lower end with an-extension 34, which is secured to the line 30 and is provided with a control valve 35.

The arrangement is such that by regulating the valve 35, the amount of a mixture of raw oil and condensate pumped into the line 21 can be controlled. In other words, to the extent that the valve is open, the oil coming from the line 30 will circulate from 30 through the pump 31, line 33 and back through valve 35 to line 30.

In certain cases, it may be desirable to avoid pumping the raw oil up into the top of the dephlegmator. To this end, I provide a line 37, which is connected to the charging pump 20, at one end and at its other end to the line 25 as shown at 38. interposed in the line 37. The arrangement is such that by shutting the valve 23 and opening valve 39, the charging stock can be A valve 39 is delivered directly to the cracking tubes Without passing through the dephlegmator.

The following illustrative run may be given: gas oil from say, the Kansas field, of 32 B. may be delivered to the charging pump and thence by line 21 to the dephlegmator in the manner heretofore described. The oil, as it passes through the cracking tubes is heated to an oil temperature of 750 F. and maintained under a pressure 130 lbs. This pressure is maintained throughout the system by suitably controlling the various outlet valves in the drawofl lines. From 30% to 40% of this gas oil may be thus converted into substantially 400 end point gasoline of say, 56 to 58 B. gravity.

It is to be noted that the regulated quan-. tities of oil which are subjected to the dephle ator are constantly being returned to the c arging line for proper treatment. Also that the may or may not again pass through the dep legmator, depending upon the manner in'which the valves are regulated. For example, the fresh oil may all pass up through the'line 21 but none of it may cut back to either pump, by tightly closin the Valves 32, 35 and 39 and shutting o the pump 31.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a still, of a reflux condenser, a charging pump, means for delivering oil from the charging pump, into the upper portion of the reflux condenser, connections between the vapor spaces of the still and the lower portion of said reflux con denser, connections from the lower portion of the reflux condenser to the still, a tank for receiving a portion of the reflux condensate and charging oil from the reflux condenser, means for passing reflux condensate and charging oil from the reflux condenser to' said tank and means for pumping regulated quantities of said condensate and charging oil from said tank to the reflux condenser.

2. In an apparatus of the character-described, the combination with a heating zone having a vaporizing space, of a reflux condenser, means for forcing oil into the upper portion of the reflux condenser, a depending leg from said reflux condenser of substantially smaller cross section, connections from the depending leg of the reflux condenser to the heatin zone, and a tank communicating with the re oil collecting in said reflux leg and means for returning oil from said tank to said reflux condenser. y I

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a heating zone having a vaporizing space, of a reflux condenser, means for forcing oil into the upper portion of the reflux condenser, a depending leg from said reflux condenser of substantially smaller cross section, connections from the depending leg of the reflux condenser to the heating zone, a tank communicating with the reflux leg for receiving a portion of the oil collecting in said reflux leg, and means for forcing regulated quantities of oil from said tank to the reflux condenser.

4. An apparatus for treating hydrocarbon oil comprising a still, a dephlegmator, a vapor line connecting said still and dephlegmator, means for withdrawing reflux condensate from said dephlegmator, means for passing a portion of the reflux condensate to a recelver positioned exteriorly of the dephleginator and adapted to function as a conduit through which said portion of the reflux condensate flows, means for passing another portion of the reflux condensate to said still, means for returning reflux condensate from said receiver to the upper portion of said dephlegmator, said means including a pump, said-dephlegmator, receiver, the means for passing a portion of the reflux condensate to said receiver and the means for returning reflux condensate .from said receiver to said dephlegmator constituting a closed ring, and means connecting the outlet of said pump to said ring at a point in advance of the suction side of the pump whereby a portion of the condensate moving in said closed ring is returned to a preceding point of said ring without entering said dephlegmator.

5. An apparatus for treating hydrocarbon oil comprising a still, a dephlegmator, a vapor line connecting said still and dephlegmator, means for withdrawing reflux condensate from said de hlegmator, means for passing a portion of tli er positioned exteriorly of the dephlegmator and adapted to function as a conduit through which said portion of the reflux condensate flows, means for passing another portion of the reflux condensate to said still, means for returning reflux condensate from said receiver to the upper portion of said dephlegmator, said means including a pump, said dephlegmator, receiver, and means for passing a porux leg for receiving a portion of the 1 tion of the reflux condensate to said receiver and the means for returning reflux condensate from said receiver to said dephlegmator constituting a closed ring, means connecting the outlet of said pump to said ring at a point in advance of the suction side of the pump whereby a portion of the condensate moving in said closed ring exteriorly of said dephlegmator is caused to reflow through said pump Without entering said dephlegmator. ROBERT T. POLLOCK. 

